Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many apprenticeships have been created in his Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.

Mr John Hayes: The Transport Infrastructure Skills Strategy (January 2016) sets out our ambition to create 30,000 apprenticeships in the roads and rail sectors by 2020, in support of this government’s unprecedented investment in transport infrastructure. This target includes the Department for Transport, its Agencies and infrastructure client bodies – Crossrail, Transport for London, Highways England, Network Rail and HS2 Ltd, as well as each of their supply chains. Regarding apprenticeships just within the Department for Transport – comprising the central Department and the four Executive Agencies – data is not readily available in the format requested.

Department for Transport: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent estimate he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by his Department in the last 12 months.

Mr John Hayes: Network Rail procures approximately 114,000 tonnes of steel rail per annum from Tata’s plant in Scunthorpe – approximately 95% of its direct requirements. Steel requirements for other projects funded by the Department are procured by prime contractors and therefore figures are not available. A breakdown of directly sourced UK steel is shown below for the last 13 rail periods. Railway periodTonnesSpend £mP8, 15/1610,4946.9P9, 15/1611,3927.3P10, 15/164,6362.8P11, 15/167,5264.7P12, 15/169,5565.8P13, 15/169,0555.4P1, 16/1713,6657.9P2, 16/176,9303.9P3, 16/177,7654.5P4, 16/178,3015.0P5, 16/173,3621.9P6, 16/1711,6266.9P7, 16/179,8096.2TOTAL LAST 12 MONTHS114,11769.2

Heathrow Airport: Railways

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential (a) economic merits and (b) benefits to passengers of a western rail link to Heathrow Airport.

Paul Maynard: Network Rail’s own data details that a Western Rail Link to Heathrow will involve over £800 million of UK economic activity, including additional economic benefits for the region. Passengers will benefit from new journey opportunities, improving access to Heathrow from the South Coast, South West, South Wales and West Midlands via a simple change of train at Reading. This will spare passengers the frustration of passing Heathrow on the way to Paddington, before having to turn around and do the last part of the journey in reverse – significantly reducing rail journey times between Reading and Heathrow.

Heathrow Airport

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential economic effect of a third runway at Heathrow Airport on Swindon.

Mr John Hayes: The department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the impact of a new runway at Heathrow on Swindon. The economic assessment has primarily been taken at the national level, taking account of all UK regions. As with other regions, people in the South West can expect to take advantage of new destinations, extra seats and increased frequency of service created by increased capacity at Heathrow.

Taxis

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2016 to Question 44675, if he will carry out an assessment of the effect of an increase in the number of private hire vehicles on (a) congestion and (b) consumer safety.

Andrew Jones: The Government does not at this time plan to undertake an assessment of the effect of an increase in the number of private hire vehicle nationally on congestion. The legislation that provides for licensing of private hire vehicle services is enabling in its nature, giving local licensing authorities the discretion to set standards that they deem to be appropriate for their area. To help licensing authorities set standards the Department has issued Best Practice Guidance. Should the Policing and Crime Bill currently being considered by the house receive Royal Assent, the guidance relating to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults will then have a statutory footing, requiring all local licensing authorities to give due regard when setting their own polices.

Bus Services: Tickets

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 44454, when he plans to publish research on non-London bus passenger attitudes towards contactless payments.

Andrew Jones: Transport Focus published their research on non-London bus passenger attitudes towards contactless payments on 25 October this year. The research is available on their website.

Buses: Fuels

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2016 to Question 44451, if the Government will carry out a detailed assessment of trends in the level of the fuel efficiency of buses.

Andrew Jones: The Department for Transport does not currently have any formal plans in place to carry out a detailed assessment of trends in the level of the fuel efficiency of buses. We have however supported industry to create a new Low Emission Bus accreditation, which will help introduce buses with lower emissions and better fuel efficiency, to the UK bus fleet. Additionally, the Government will fund the purchase of over 300 fuel efficient Low Emission Buses under this accreditation, and will monitor their fuel efficiency.

Heathrow Airport

Dr Tania Mathias: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of potential capacity at Heathrow Airport which will be unfilled when a new third runway is operational.

Mr John Hayes: A third runway at Heathrow is expected to become operational in 2026 subject to the Government’s consultation on a draft National Policy Statement and the planning process. In its Strategic Fit: Forecasts report, the Airports Commission (AC) published its assessment of how much capacity at the expanded Heathrow could be used. Capacity is dependent on the level of future aviation demand. The AC therefore considered five alternate demand scenarios. Across these scenarios, Heathrow could reach full capacity by 2035, but in the lowest demand scenario, capacity may not be fully used until 2042.

Southern: Compensation

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 September 2016 to Question 45235, what progress his Department has made on reviewing compensation options for Southern Rail passengers following the recent disruption to the regular timetable.

Paul Maynard: The Secretary of State is considering options and will make an announcement shortly.

Govia Thameslink Railway: Tickets

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on introducing (a) flexible ticketing and (b) rail season tickets tailored towards part-time workers on the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise.

Paul Maynard: Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) have recently concluded a trial on two routes (Horsham to London and Radlett to London) where passengers with a season ticket who travelled at off peak times were offered cashback for each journey undertaken. A feasibility report detailing the costs and benefits of introducing innovative flexible ticket types throughout the franchise will be provided to the Department shortly. Officials will then discuss with the operator how to proceed with this. Officials continue to work with GTR on implementing part time season tickets. It is expected that a limited trial will take place following enhancements to GTR’s KeyGo product in the next few months. The routes on which any trial may take place have yet to be agreed.

Airports

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the runway capacity was for each UK airport in each of the last 10 years.

Mr John Hayes: UK Aviation Forecasts (Department for Transport, January 2013), Table 3.10 gave estimates of annual runway and passenger capacities for the 31 principal UK airports in 2008. See: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/223839/aviation-forecasts.pdf. Strategic Fit Forecasts (Airports Commission, July 2015), Table 3.2 gave estimates of annual runway and passenger capacities for the 31 principal UK airports in 2011. Seehttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/439687/strategic-fit-updated-forecasts.pdf.

Airports: North West

Ian C. Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2016 to Question 49985, how many passengers travelled by (a) road and (b) train to (i) Manchester and (ii) Liverpool Airport in each of the last 10 years.

Mr John Hayes: The total number of (a) road passengers and (b) rail passengers to and from both (i) Manchester airport and (ii) Liverpool airport for each year 2006-2015 are presented in the table below. The data is drawn from the CAA passenger survey for each year between 2006-2015 for Manchester airport and the years 2007, 2010, 2014, and 2015 for Liverpool airport.  Year(a)Road (million passengers) (i)Manchester (ii)Liverpool(b)Rail (million passengers) (i)Manchester (ii)Liverpool200619.74.71.70.19200719.25.11.80.20200818.55.01.80.20200916.24.61.90.18201015.14.82.00.05201116.05.02.20.05201216.54.22.60.05201317.24.02.80.04201418.03.83.00.06201519.34.12.90.10Underlined figures represent best estimates for years when no survey was conducted, based on the mode share split for the most recent year surveyed. The numbers in the table reflect the principal mode of transport used by passengers to travel to or from the airport. This may not always be the final access mode.

Airports

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the PwC report prepared for the Airports Commission entitled 2. Economy: Wider impact assessment, published in November 2014, whether he has had discussions with PwC on the modelling methodology used in that report.

Mr John Hayes: I have not had any discussions with PwC in relation to the reports referred to. The Department has had discussions with PwC on the modelling methodology used in the report prepared for the Airports Commission entitled 1. Strategic Fit: GDP/GVA Impacts, of June 2015 – the follow up study to 2. Economy: Wider impact assessment, published in November 2014. As a result, in reaching our view on the preferred scheme, we have considered analysis underpinned by established appraisal methodologies rather than the techniques adopted by PWC and reported in the strategic case of the Airport Commission’s final report. These established methodologies were used by the Airports Commission to produce the economic case in their final report, which also underpins the Department’s Further Review and Sensitivities report.

Heathrow Airport

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Civil Aviation Authority on working together with owners and managers at Heathrow Airport to develop a plan for landing slots until 2030.

Mr John Hayes: Under European Union regulations airport slot allocation in the UK is managed by a designated co-ordinator independently of the Government, the Civil Aviation Authority and other interested parties. However, the Secretary of State for Transport made clear in last week’s statement on airport capacity that the Government will take all necessary steps to enhance the UK’s domestic air connectivity including, where appropriate, ring-fencing a proportion of new slots for routes supported by public service obligations.

Northern Ireland Office

Belfast Agreement

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Government has sought legal advice about the impact on the Belfast Agreement of 1998 of the UK's decision to leave the EU; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The UK Government stands by its commitment to the Belfast Agreement and the outcome of the EU referendum does not change this. We are considering all issues relevant to Northern Ireland, including legal issues, associated with the UK’s decision to leave the EU.

Overseas Trade: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the effect on (a) exports from and (b) imports into Northern Ireland of the recent drop in the value of sterling; and if he will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: We have made no assessment of the recent change in the value of sterling on exports from and imports into Northern Ireland.

Equality Commission for Great Britain: Public Appointments

Mr Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to his Department's press release of 20 October 2016, entitled Appointment of new members to Equality Commission, what steps he is taking to ensure that the makeup of that Commission is representative of the communities it serves.

Kris Hopkins: Appointments to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland are made on merit following an open and transparent process regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. My Department takes proportionate and appropriate steps to encourage a wide range of suitably qualified individuals from different backgrounds, including those from under-represented groups, to apply for all public appointments.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Electricity Generation: Carbon Emissions

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the evidence used to inform the range of the costs set out for alternative large-scale low carbon generation technologies in the 2020s in his Department's Hinkley Point C Value for Money Assessment.

Jesse Norman: The Department expects to publish the update of our evidence on the levelised costs of electricity generation in due course.

Electricity Generation: Carbon Emissions

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reasons the range of the costs for alternative large-scale low carbon generation technologies in the 2020s as set out in his Department's Hinkley Point C Value for Money Assessment differs from the assessment of the same technologies in the National Audit Office report on Nuclear power in the UK, published in July 2016.

Jesse Norman: The National Audit Office report in question refers to preliminary estimates of levelised cost data from this evidence update. These have not been published. However, we expect to publish the update of the evidence on the levelised costs of electricity generation in due course.

Hinkley Point C Power Station: Cost Effectiveness

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the evidence used to inform the conclusion in the Hinkley Point C Value for Money Assessment that the same capacity of onshore wind and solar would require significant upgrades to the grid and increase the costs of keeping the system in balance.

Jesse Norman: We expect to publish the update of our evidence on the levelised costs of electricity generation in due course.

Electricity Generation

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will publish the departmental report on which figures for the levelised cost of generating 1MWh with different technologies in 2025 in the National Audit Office report, Nuclear power in the UK, published in July 2016, are based.

Jesse Norman: The Department expects to publish the update of the evidence on the levelised costs of electricity generation in due course.

Carbon Sequestration: Research

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what research is being conducted by the Government on carbon capture technologies.

Jesse Norman: Holding answer received on 03 November 2016



Since 2011 the Government has invested over £130 million through innovation support to help develop carbon capture technologies and reduce their costs. This includes spending approximately £11 million since 2015 on a range of carbon capture projects supporting research and development in CO2 storage, carbon capture technologies and CCS feasibility studies. The Government Energy Entrepreneurs Fund has funded approximately £1.6 million in support to innovative carbon capture technologies. Phase 5 of this Fund opened on 30 October 2016. This is an additional £9 million of funding which is open to carbon capture projects and further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-entrepreneurs-fund-phase-5

Fracking: North West

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with industry on hydraulic fracturing in the North West.

Jesse Norman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy meets regularly with energy industry leaders. A register of meetings is published on a quarterly basis as part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy’s transparency data.

Internet: Temporary Employment

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the legal protections in place for workers engaged with online platforms in the gig economy.

Margot James: This Government believes everyone deserves to be treated fairly at work and is clear that employers must take their employment law responsibilities seriously and cannot simply opt out of them.That is why my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has announced an independent review of employment practices in the modern economy, which will consider how employment practices might need to change in order to keep pace with modern business models including the impact on job security and workplace rights.

Research: EU Grants and Loans

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate he has made of the funding to UK-based consortia from the EU Horizon 2020 programme in each of the next four years.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 04 November 2016



From the start of Horizon 2020 to February 2016 UK participants won a total of €1.8bn or around 15% of all awards made1. While the UK remains a member of the EU, funding and collaboration arrangements continue unchanged. Researchers can continue to bid for competitive EU research funding such as Horizon 2020 while we remain a member of the EU. The Government will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. Access to apply to Horizon 2020 and subsequent funding programmes after we leave the EU will be a matter for the negotiations that will follow the triggering of Article 50.1https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-participation-in-horizon-2020-and-framework-programme-7

Research: EU Grants and Loans

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will match EU funding for universities and other research institutions for (a) the Erasmus plus programme and (b) any other sources of non-Horizon 2020 funding after the UK has left the EU.

Joseph Johnson: The referendum result has no immediate effect on students abroad under the Erasmus scheme or applying for 2016/17. Payments will be made in the usual way. Access to the programme after we leave the EU is a matter for the forthcoming negotiations.In terms of non-Horizon 2020 funding, the Treasury has guaranteed all competitive funding, where recipients bid directly to the Commission for funds. Where bids submitted before the UK leaves the EU are successful, the Treasury will underwrite this funding, even if it continues past the point of exit. The Treasury has also guaranteed structural and investment fund projects signed before the UK departs the EU so long as they provide strong value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.In the long term leaving the EU means we will want to take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. Over the coming months, we will consult closely with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest, while ensuring appropriate investor certainty.

British Home Stores: Insolvency

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has met (a) Sir Philip Green or (b) any employees of British Home Stores about that company's move into administration.

Margot James: Neither my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State nor I have met with Sir Philip Green or the employees at this stage. The Insolvency Service is conducting an investigation into the conduct of those controlling BHS and this will cover the reasons for the administration.

Post Office: Finance

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of future funding requirements for the Post Office.

Margot James: Post Office Limited will shortly submit its proposed strategy and the funding request to support it for consideration by Ministers. We expect the Post Office to continue to need funding beyond 2018, and we will be working with Post Office Limited over the coming months to evaluate the strategy and establish appropriate funding levels.

Intellectual Property: Drugs

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department's policy is on using the flexibility provided by the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights under World Trade Organisation rules for compulsory license for the Kadcyla form of trastuzumab emtansine for UK patients.

Joseph Johnson: The UK Patents Act 1977, in line with the WTO TRIPS Agreement, provides for compulsory licenses in certain circumstances. Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) is currently available to patients in England for the treatment of HER2-positive locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic breast cancer through the Cancer Drugs Fund. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing its technology appraisal guidance on trastuzumab emtansine for refractory, HER2 positive breast cancer. NICE expects to publish its updated guidance in February 2017.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many apprenticeships have been created in his Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.

Sir Alan Duncan: In the UK, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operates only in London and the South East. The FCO offered apprenticeships for the first time in 2015. Given the sensitivity of FCO work, we are only able to offer a limited number of apprenticeships. We offered fewer than ten apprenticeships in this first year, and are therefore unable to confirm the precise numbers or locations since this might enable individual identities to be revealed. Due to the small numbers, we are also unable to confirm the number remaining in a job in the Civil Service. We are currently in the process of recruiting twenty three apprentices, the majority of whom will be offered a position in Milton Keynes (South East) and the rest in London.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government has made a request to participate in the Joint Incident Assessment Team investigation into the Sana's funeral hall attack in Yemen on 8 October 2016; and how many requests in total the Government has made to participate in such investigations.

Boris Johnson: ​The UK has supported the development of the coalition Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) and delivered two training sessions in Saudi Arabia on the process for investigating alleged international humanitarian law (IHL) violations. The UK has not been directly involved in investigations undertaken by the JIAT.We welcomed the Cessation of Hostilities from 19 - 22 October. It is critical that all parties to the conflict renew their commitment to the Cessation of Hostilities for the sake of the people of Yemen. All parties must engage constructively with the De-escalation and Coordination Committee so that when incidents of concern are raised they can be addressed effectively to reduce the likelihood of escalation.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what basis the home of Abdullah Adbo in the Al-Salw district of Taiz, and adjacent homes, were attacked by the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen on 28 or 29 October 2016; and when he expects to receive the report of the Joint Incident Assessment Team into that incident.

Boris Johnson: ​We are aware of reports of an alleged airstrike on the district of Taiz on 29 October. It is important that the Saudi-led Coalition conducts thorough and conclusive investigations into incidents where it is alleged that international humanitarian law (IHL) has been breached. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with IHL with the Saudi Arabian Government and other members of the military Coalition. We welcomed the Cessation of Hostilities from 19 - 22 October. It is critical that all parties to the conflict renew their commitment to the Cessation of Hostilities for the sake of the people of Yemen. All parties must engage constructively with the De-escalation and Coordination Committee so that when incidents of concern are raised they can be addressed effectively to reduce the likelihood of escalation.

Yemen: Military Intervention

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what basis the prison complex within the Red Sea port of Hodeida was attacked by the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen on 29 October 2016; and when he expects to receive the report of the Joint Incident Assessment Team into that incident.

Boris Johnson: ​We are aware of reports of an alleged airstrike on the prison complex within Hodeida on 29 October. It is important that the Saudi-led Coalition conducts thorough and conclusive investigations into incidents where it is alleged that international humanitarian law (IHL) has been breached. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with IHL with the Saudi Arabian Government and other members of the military Coalition.We welcomed the Cessation of Hostilities from 19 - 22 October. It is critical that all parties to the conflict renew their commitment to the Cessation of Hostilities for the sake of the people of Yemen. All parties must engage constructively with the De-escalation and Coordination Committee so that when incidents of concern are raised they can be addressed effectively to reduce the likelihood of escalation.

Department for Exiting the European Union

EU Law

Roger Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many EU laws, regulations and standards he plans to include in the planned Great Repeal Bill.

Mr David Jones: The Government will bring forward legislation in the next session that, when enacted, will repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and ensure a functioning statute book on the day we leave the EU. This Great Repeal Bill will end the authority of EU law and return power to the UK.The Bill will preserve EU-derived legislation, as it applies in the UK on exit day. Once we have left the EU, parliament and the government will be able to make changes to the law in the usual way.The Government will set out the content of the Bill and its implications in due course.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what recent estimate he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by his Department since its creation.

Mr David Jones: The information is not centrally held in the form requested. Over the last year Government has acted to level the playing field for UK steel producers in light of the complex global challenges faced by the UK steel sector. Last December Government issued guidance to central government departments on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. This guidance is also being extended to the wider public sector.

Department for Exiting the European Union: Staff

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, how many staff are employed in his Department's Communications Directorate.

Mr David Jones: The Department for Exiting the European Union now has over 250 staff and the expertise of 120 officials in Brussels, and is continuing to grow. We are not in a position to give a final total as recruitment is ongoing.

Attorney General

Attorney General: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Attorney General, what recent estimate he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by the Law Officers' Departments in the last 12 months.

Robert Buckland: The Law Officers’ Departments have not procured any steel in the last 12 months.

Attorney General: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Attorney General, how many apprenticeships have been created in the Law Officers' Departments in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.

Robert Buckland: In light of the Government’s manifesto commitment to achieve three million new apprenticeship starts in England by the end of the Parliament, the Cabinet Office will be centrally collecting data on apprenticeships to allow the Civil Service to report on its contribution towards the national target. Crown Prosecution Service employed 491apprentices, 194 apprentices have secured a permanent post prior to the 2016 intake of Apprentices. Serious Fraud Office employed 19 apprentices, 12 apprentices have secured a permanent post. Government Legal Department employed 9 apprentices; all have been or will be offered a permanent post. Attorney General’s Office and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecutions Inspectorate have had no apprentices over this time. LODLOCATION20122013201420152016CPSCASEWORK DIVISIONS04281122EAST MIDLANDS7818412MERSEY CHESHIRE03336NORTH EAST50007NORTH WEST15013012SOUTH EAST4322012SOUTH WEST606107CPS DIRECT10097LONDON01235019WALES05716WESSEX05804YORKSHIRE & HUMBERSIDE314105THAMES & CHILTERN007010EAST OF ENGLAND00602WEST MIDLANDS1203006CENTRAL LONDON028114OVERALL TOTAL534319559141GLDCENTRAL LONDON01251SFOCENTRAL LONDON4*05*3*7**N.B. Serious Fraud Office has calculated this by financial year as this is how their data is recorded.

Energy: Meters

Jim Shannon: To ask the Attorney General, how many people have been convicted of tampering with electric or gas meters in each of the last five years.

Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of people who have been prosecuted for, or convicted of, offences of tampering with electric or gas meters. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.

Department for Education

Regional Schools Commissioners

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the key performance targets are for Regional School Commissioners from October 2016.

Edward Timpson: We are currently reviewing the key performance targets for Regional Schools Commissioners, to ensure they continue to fit their developing role. We will be publishing them in due course.

University Technical Colleges: Student Numbers

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many university technical colleges have fewer pupils on roll than they have capacity for.

Edward Timpson: 46 of 48 UTCs have opened since 2013 and understandably it will take a number of years for these UTCs to reach full capacity. To date only the JCB Academy, which opened in 2010, has reached full capacity.

Students: Fees and Charges

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she has conducted an equality impact assessment to assess the effect on students from disadvantaged backgrounds of the recent rise in tuition fees.

Joseph Johnson: The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with the potential has the opportunity to benefit from higher education, irrespective of their background. The latest data shows the application and entry rates for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are at record levels.An equality assessment was performed in relation to the Higher Education and Research Bill, which covers the potential impacts of the introduction of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and its link to student tuition fees on protected and disadvantaged groups. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-and-research-bill-equality-analysisThe Secretary of State will also consider the impact of changes to student support and tuition fees for 2017/18 on protected and disadvantaged groups, as required by the Public Sector Equality Duty, before the secondary legislation that will implement these changes is laid before Parliament. The equality analysis covering these changes, including the potential impact of tuition fee rises up to an inflationary-linked fee cap for providers successful in TEF Year One, will be published alongside these regulations.

Overseas Students

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2016 to Question 49045, what estimate she has made of the financial contribution to be made by international students to the wider UK economy in each of the next five years.

Joseph Johnson: The Department has not made any estimate of the financial contribution to be made by international students to the wider UK economy in the next five years.

Overseas Students

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2016 to Question 49043, what estimate she has made of the financial contribution to be made by international students to UK universities in each of the next five years.

Joseph Johnson: In autumn 2015, as part of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement, the following estimates were published, based on forecasts by English universities. English Higher Education InstitutionsForecasts of student numbers and associated incomeAcademic Year 2015/16 – 2019/20 2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/20Total growthHome and EU students (FTE)1,300,0001,340,0001,370,0001,400,0001,440,000130,000Home and EU students (£m)9,2009,70010,00010,20010,4001,300Non-EU students (FTE)260,000280,000300,000310,000320,00055,000Non-EU income (£m)3,8004,2004,6004,7004,9001,000Source: English universities’ forecasts, Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE). Figures may not sum due to rounding. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/479749/52229_Blue_Book_PU1865_Web_Accessible.pdf

Education: Travellers

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what terms of reference and objectives have been set for her Department's Gypsy, Roma and Traveller expert panel.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2016 to Question 49242, what organisations and community groups have been invited to provide expertise on the drivers for raising the educational attainment of gypsy, roma and traveller pupils.

Nick Gibb: There are a number of factors that influence the educational attainment of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils, and it is important that the Department continues to maintain a frequent dialogue with key representatives and organisations from these communities. The Department is currently developing its plans and will provide further detail in due course.

Higher Education: Greater London

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect on funding for higher education institutions in Greater London of the UK leaving the EU.

Joseph Johnson: Any effect on higher education funding following the UK’s exit from the EU will be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU.

Institute for Apprenticeships

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans she has to consult with employers on the appointment of a new permanent chief executive of the Institute for Apprenticeships.

Robert Halfon: Peter Lauener is currently the Shadow Chief Executive for the Institute for Apprenticeships. A permanent Chief Executive will be appointed in 2017 through an open competition recruitment process.

Universities: Student Numbers

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent estimate she has made of the number of (a) EU and (b) non-EU students in UK universities in each of the next five years; and if she will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: In autumn 2015, as part of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement, the following estimates were published, based on forecasts by English universities. These forecasts only include English higher education institutions, and do not separate out Home and EU students. English Higher Education InstitutionsForecasts of student numbersAcademic Year 2015/16 – 2019/20 2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/20Total growthHome and EU students (FTE)1,300,0001,340,0001,370,0001,400,0001,440,000130,000Non-EU students (FTE)260,000280,000300,000310,000320,00055,000Source: English universities’ forecasts, Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE). Figures may not sum due to rounding.

Apprentices: Warrington North

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many people in Warrington North constituency have undertaken an apprenticeship in each of the last 10 years.

Robert Halfon: The attached table shows how many apprenticeships were started in the Warrington North constituency in each of the last 10 academic years. Different regional level data are published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/558301/201516_OCT_Apps_Starts_by_Region_PCON_LEA_LA_E_D_Final_V1.3.xlsx 



Apprenticeships started in Warrington North
(Excel SpreadSheet, 10.61 KB)

Apprentices

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many 16 to 18 year olds have undertaken an apprenticeship in each of the last five years; and how many of those apprentices were (a) male, (b) female and (c) from an ethnic minority.

Robert Halfon: The tables below show apprenticeship participation by learners aged 16 to 18 year olds by ethnicity and gender in latest 5 academic years for which data is available. Apprenticeship Participation by Age and Ethnicity (2010/11 to 2014/15)  2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15 AgeEthnicityNumberNumberNumberNumberNumber 16-18Asian/ Asian British6,2406,3005,2005,7506,280  Black/ African/ Caribbean/ Black British3,8303,8503,3103,0903,170  Mixed/ Multiple Ethnic Group4,2704,2404,0004,2204,560  Other Ethnic Group730770830800880  Total BAME15,07015,16013,33013,86014,890  White186,730173,240166,580170,410177,770  Not Known/Not Provided1,3201,1801,4001,5401,460 16-18 Total 203,120189,580181,310185,820194,110  Grand Total  665,900806,500868,700851,500871,770Apprenticeship Participation by Age and Gender (2010/11 to 2014/15)  2010/112011/122012/132013/142014/15 AgeGenderNumberNumberNumberNumberNumber 16-18Female89,09081,64078,90080,76082,710  Male114,040107,940102,410105,050111,400 16-18 Total 203,120189,580181,310185,820194,110 Grand Total 665,900806,500868,700851,500871,770

Apprenticeship Delivery Board and  Institute for Apprenticeships

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's policy is on the respective roles of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board and the Institute for Apprenticeships after the departure of the hon. Member for Stratford-upon-Avon from the position of Apprenticeship Tsar.

Robert Halfon: The Apprenticeship Delivery Board will continue its work to stimulate engagement with apprenticeships, chaired by David Meller who was previously the co-chair.

Institute for Apprenticeships

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the written statement of 27 October 2016, HCWS223, on technical and further education, what additional staffing and resources she plans to allocate to the Institute for Apprenticeships.

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of staff who will be employed by the Institute for Apprenticeships by (a) January 2017, (b) May 2017 and (c) January 2018.

Robert Halfon: We are currently developing the detailed structure of the Institute for Apprenticeships and we are therefore not yet able to set out initial staff numbers. Staffing levels are likely to increase in future years if Parliament approves the Technical and Further Education Bill.

Vocational Education

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Independent Panel on Technical Education.

Robert Halfon: The Skills White Paper (published July 2016), accepted all the recommendations of the Independent Panel and outlines the most radical reform of post-16 education since the introduction of A-Levels 70 years ago, and will transform the technical education landscape. We are currently working with a range of stakeholders on developing our proposals for first teaching in 2019, and we will publish an implementation plan setting out more detail in due course.

Teachers: Training

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2016 to Question 48450, which local authorities have teaching schools.

Nick Gibb: There is a teaching school in all but four local authorities in England. Brighton and Hove, Isle of Wight, Isle of Scilly and City of London do not yet have a designated teaching school. Support is offered to schools in these four local authorities by teaching schools from neighbouring areas. Brighton and Hove and Isle of Wight have been identified as target areas in the November 2016 recruitment round for teaching schools.

Universities: Competition

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that UK universities remain globally competitive after the UK leaves the EU.

Joseph Johnson: UK universities are home to both world-class teaching and life-changing research, and exiting the EU will not change this. The Government has already announced that EU students applying for a place at an English university or further education institution in 2017/2018 (or before) will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants for the duration of their course, even if the UK exits the EU during that period. To support research and innovation, we have also announced that HM Treasury will underwrite funding for approved Horizon 2020 projects applied for before the UK leaves the EU, including where specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure.Future arrangements for EU students and staff, funding and also UK students studying abroad will need to be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU. The Government is fully committed to ensuring that we get the best possible outcome for the higher education sector from its negotiations with the EU.

Ministry of Justice

Communications Act 2003: Convictions

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 11 October 2016 to Question 46111, if she will say where on the gov.uk website there are details of the number of people convicted for offences under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 in each of the last three years.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The statistics are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2015 in the CJS outcomes by offence data tool.

Prisoner Escapes

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps she is taking to support the police and prison services in informing and reassuring the public in a timely manner during escape incidents.

Mr Sam Gyimah: NOMS works closely with the police and Crown Prosecution Service to ensure escaped prisoners are arrested, returned to custody as soon as possible and prosecuted. Following an escape the police are notified immediately and will lead the investigation. Victims of the offence committed by the escaped prisoner who are registered with the Victim Support Service will be notified of the escape and the police may choose to publicise the details of the prisoners if this is beneficial to their investigation. NOMS takes public protection and escapes from prison extremely seriously and an immediate investigation will be undertaken by NOMS following an escape and lessons learnt passed to all prisons.

Prime Minister

British Overseas Territories

Catherine West: To ask the Prime Minister, when she has met leaders of the Overseas Territories.

Mrs Theresa May: Details of Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly and is available on the gov.uk website.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Broadband: North East Bedfordshire

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many households have taken up the Government's subsidised broadband connection offer in North East Bedfordshire.

Matt Hancock: 11,257.

Arts: Expenditure

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the level of arts spending per head in each of the regions of England has been in each of the last five years.

Matt Hancock: Funding decisions are a matter for the Arts Council England. The Government has been clear that the right balance of funding between London and the regions continues to require attention as part of our commitment to build a country that works for everyone. It is important that regardless of location, everyone should be able to access great arts and culture. Arts Council England continue to work on this and recently announced that the proportion of the national portfolio budget spent outside London will increase from 2018. Spending in individual regions fluctuates from year to year and is heavily affected by individual large scale capital funding projects. However as the attached table shows, 2015-16 saw the largest proportion of spending outside London than in any of the previous 10 years – including five years of a Labour government.  



Spend per head by region 2005-16
(Excel SpreadSheet, 2.67 MB)

Commercial Broadcasting: Radio

Calum Kerr: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when her Department plans to publish its consultation on regulatory reform of the commercial radio sector.

Matt Hancock: We hope to publish a consultation paper on commercial radio deregulation in due course.

Motor Sports

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the economic contribution of speedway to the economy.

Tracey Crouch: We have no made assessment of the economic impact of speedway, but recognise it as an important part of the domestic motorsports sector, which not only contributes economically, but entertains spectators, and is enjoyed by over 20000 participants a week.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Staff

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many officials of her Department are employed to work specifically on developing new technologies.

Matt Hancock: One of the primary objectives of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is to support the growth of the UK’s Digital Economy and encourage the development and adoption of new technologies across all sectors. Officials in many teams in the Department work on policies and interventions to create the right environment for this growth, whether it is improving digital infrastructure and digital skills or supporting digital enterprise and the creative industries. The Government gives direct support to the development of new technologies through organisations such as InnovateUK and the Digital Catapult.

Tourism

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions she has had with Visit England on increasing tourism outside London.

Tracey Crouch: Ministers and officials regularly meet with Visit England, as well as Visit Britain to actively discuss a range of issues affecting the industry. Through the £40m Discover England Fund, which aims to encourage tourists to travel outside of London, we are developing world class itineraries and new tourist products.

5G

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress her Department has made on developing capacity to implement the policy of making the UK a world leader in the development of 5G technologies.

Matt Hancock: The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK seizes the chance to be a world leader in the development of 5G, and the UK has actively participated in the global process for setting 5G standards. We have asked the Future Communications Challenge Group (FCCG) of senior academics, industry experts and funders to consider how to drive forward the Government's commitment in this area. In parallel the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) is conducting a study, launched at Budget 2016, into how the UK can achieve early deployment of 5G networks. These reports will feed into a comprehensive 5G strategy for the UK, to be published in 2017.

Museums and Galleries: Low Incomes

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will take steps to ensure that low income families have free access to museums and galleries.

Matt Hancock: The Government is dedicated to ensuring that arts and cultural experiences like museums and galleries benefit everyone and not just the privileged few. That is why we are committed to retaining free access to the permanent national collections. Since the introduction of free access in 2001, visits to DCMS-sponsored museums and galleries have increased by over 150%.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many apprenticeships have been created in her Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.

Matt Hancock: In light of the Government’s manifesto commitment to achieve three million new apprenticeship starts in England by the end of the Parliament, the Cabinet Office will be centrally collecting data on apprenticeships to allow the Civil Service to report on its contribution towards the national target. DCMS employed four apprenticeships in the 2014 calendar year, five in 2015 and three in 2016 to date. All of these apprentices were recruited on permanent Civil Service contracts. Data on apprentices was separately recorded from 2014.

Football: Clothing

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make urgent representations to FIFA to ensure that football teams representing the constituent parts of the UK can display a poppy on their shirts during forthcoming international fixtures if they so choose.

Tracey Crouch: Our message to FIFA is clear. We believe that footballers representing Home Nations should, if they choose, be able to wear their poppies with pride to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of servicemen and women killed in conflict and to help support the armed forces community. To have our players compete with poppies on their shirts would be particularly poignant as we continue to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the benefits of the forthcoming release of 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz for the availability of high-speed mobile broadband in rural areas.

Matt Hancock: As noted in the initial conclusions of Ofcom's digital communications review published in February 2016, this spectrum "is best suited to providing additional capacity than increasing coverage" (para 3.49, p.30). Improving mobile coverage remains a key priority for Government and as a result of a licence obligation on O2 98% of UK premises should have indoor 4G coverage by end-2017.

Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of mobile spectrum distribution on the data capacity of the UK's mobile networks.

Matt Hancock: The Government has noted MNOs' representations on the issue of spectrum distribution and network capacity.

Mobile Phones: Radio Frequencies

Richard  Arkless: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department will make an assessment of the benefits to the UK mobile market of imposing a cap on the total amount of mobile spectrum that individual operators can hold.

Matt Hancock: Ofcom is responsible for the health of the UK mobile market, in line with its statutory duties. We expect Ofcom to consider arguments for and against spectrum caps in its forthcoming consultation on rules for the auction.

Department for Work and Pensions

Personal Independence Payment

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessmenthis Department has made of the suitability of (a) phones and (b) laptops for use by claimants wishing to take an audio recording of a personal independence payment assessment.

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to individual claimants of purchasing the audio recording equipment that is permitted for use during personal independence payment assessments.

Penny Mordaunt: We do not permit claimants to record their Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments using certain devices, including phones and laptops, due to concerns about the broadcasting and editing capabilities of such devices. These are specifically the risk posed to the privacy of Health Professionals from publication of assessments, and the possibility that recordings might be altered. Claimants are permitted to use any equipment which meets the requirements set out. The Department has not made an assessment of the cost of purchasing that equipment. PIP assessment policy, as with all PIP policy, undergoes continuous review and we continue to identify improvements where appropriate.

Personal Independence Payment

Holly Lynch: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what proportion of personal independence payment assessments the claimant makes a permitted audio recording of the assessment.

Penny Mordaunt: Information on the number of claimant requests for recording Personal Independence Payment assessments is not available. Claimant requests to record the consultation are permissible so long as they fulfil the conditions set out by the Department.

Work and Health Programme: Disability

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disabled jobseekers his Department expects to be able to access specialist support through the proposed Work and Health programme.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure the provision of specialist employment support to disabled jobseekers from 2017.

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government plans to make additional funding available for specialist employment support for disabled jobseekers from 2017.

Penny Mordaunt: The Spending Review announced funding rising to at least £130 million a year by 2019/20 for the new Work and Health programme, including funding to be devolved to Scotland, focussing support on people with a disability, early access for priority groups and the long term unemployed. We are not yet able to confirm how many disabled jobseekers will access the programme but we expect the majority of people who will start the programme will be disabled people.The Work and Health Programme is only one part of the wider package of support for disabled people. ‘Improving Lives, The Work, Health and Disability Green Paper’ Cm 9342, announced to the House by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 31 October, confirms we will introduce a new Personal Support Package for people with health conditions and disabilities, with a range of new interventions and initiatives designed to provide support that is tailored to the individual needs of claimants.The Package will be delivered through Jobcentre Plus, including following the Work Programme with a smaller, but more focused Work and Health Programme, coupled with significant new investment in a new Health and Work Conversation for all ESA claimants and additional Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres.From April 2017 we will also be investing the new funding announced at Summer Budget 2015 for additional employment support for new ESA and UC claimants with limited capability for work.  This will fund additional places on our existing employment programmes including a place on Work Choice or the Work and Health Programme for all new ESA Work-Related Activity Group claimants who wish to volunteer and are eligible, improved training for Work Coaches; and new measures that will harness the expertise of third sector organisations within Jobcentres.

Department for Work and Pensions: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many apprenticeships have been created in his Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.

Damian Hinds: The following provides the numbers of apprenticeships created by region: Region2012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17 (to date)Central724648166206London1920*7531North East5165101249199North West215655267316Scotland52519133176South East000320South West0029330Southern3480226212Wales351336170137Total23723328813511277  In line with standard departmental practice in statistics, we do not publish details of numbers less than 5 as this would breach our data protection obligations. Therefore all records of less than 5 have been annotated with an asterisk (*). We cannot obtain information on the number of apprenticeships who subsequently attained jobs within the civil service as we have not previously tracked this information. Our Fast Track apprentices are recruited on a permanent basis.

Housing Benefit: Fraud

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and which local authorities his Department is investigating on the grounds of potential housing benefit fraud.

Caroline Nokes: The FES Management information system FRAMIS identifies cases nationally, by Group, by District but these figures and districts are not aligned to Local Authority boundaries. The information requested therefore could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure parity of treatment for people with physical and mental health issues when applying for benefits.

Damian Hinds: DWP is totally committed to delivering good quality services that are accessible to all customers. We offer services through face to face, telephone and a range of digital channels, ensuring that the needs of all customer groups are considered. All DWP digital services meet Government accessibility standards and have assisted digital plans in place to support customers that need help to apply for benefits online. A Ministerial Taskforce of disability organisations meets several times a year to advise and support DWP in making customer information and contact more accessible and understandable. We have recently amended the “how to claim” pages for all benefits on GOV.UK, to make it clearer how disabled customers can request information in alternative formats. DWP is also trialling Video Relay Service and Next Generation Text Services for Deaf and hard of hearing customers so they receive as good a service from telephony agents as non-disabled customers. Specialist services are available for relevant groups and training is given to colleagues to identify and support customers with mental health conditions and learning difficulties.

Personal Independence Payment: Parkinson's Disease

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with Parkinson's disease receive personal independence payment at the (a) daily living standard, (b) daily living enhanced, (c) mobility standard and (d) mobility enhanced rate.

Penny Mordaunt: Figures show numbers of people in Great Britain in receipt of Personal Independence Payment as at 31st July 2016 who have either Parkinson’s disease or Parkinson's syndrome / Parkinsonism as their main disabling condition.Parkinson’s disease  Daily livingEnhancedStandardNil Enhanced1,51114313MobilityStandard66244456 Nil416899  Source: PIP Computer Systems Parkinson's syndrome / Parkinsonism  Daily livingEnhancedStandardNil Enhanced14214-MobilityStandard71407 Nil3575-Source: PIP Computer Systems

Children: Maintenance

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total monthly receipts to the public purse were from (a) the fee charged for applications to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), (b) the collection fee for paying parents using the CMS collect and pay service, (c) the collection fee for receiving payments using the CMS collect and pay service and (d) enforcement fees levied on paying parents in each month since June 2014.

Caroline Nokes: The introduction of fees and on-going collection charges are designed to act as an incentive for parents to pause and consider the different options available to them for a child maintenance arrangement, rather than applying to the statutory Child Maintenance Service ‘by default’. Charges make a small contribution to a service that is heavily subsidised by the taxpayer. Receipts in relation to the Child Maintenance Service 2012 scheme, from June 2014 to March 2016, are provided in the table below: Montha) Application Fees Received  £000'sb) Fees Received from Paying Parents  £000'sc) Fees Received from Receiving Parents  £000'sd) Enforcement Fees  £000's   Jun-141.00.00.00.0 Jul-1478.40.00.00.1 Aug-1484.412.62.50.2 Sep-1495.7138.827.50.4 Oct-14111.0218.743.30.5 Nov-1489.7218.443.21.4 Dec-1447.5244.248.11.7 Jan-15109.4254.850.42.7 Feb-15100.9260.751.23.1 Mar-15109.6300.959.33.6 Apr-15104.5311.861.66.7 May-15113.6329.664.84.5 Jun-15125.9378.774.05.9 Jul-15136.4393.776.88.0 Aug-15145.3391.376.78.9 Sep-15156.8460.589.910.8 Oct-15160.6479.293.610.6 Nov-15128.2467.390.613.1 Dec-15108.1582.1112.614.1 Jan-16193.1552.3107.314.0 Feb-16162.3575.5111.616.2 Mar-16157.8651.2126.917.3 Total2,520.27,222.31,411.8143.9

Children: Maintenance

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the projected monthly income is from charges in the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) once all cases have transferred from the legacy schemes to the CMS.

Caroline Nokes: The introduction of fees and ongoing collection charges are designed to act as an incentive for parents to pause and consider the different options available to them for a child maintenance arangement, rather than applying to the statutory Child Maintenance Service 'by default'. Charges make a small contribution to a service that is heavily subsidised by the taxpayer.It is not possible to forecast with confidence the projected monthly income from fees and charges in the Child Maintenance Service as this is sensitive to several factors, which includes the volumes of applications, the size of the caseload and client behaviour. It will also be sensitive to outcomes from the Child Support Agency case closure process, as cases are not automatically transferred.

Children: Maintenance

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much the Government has received in total to date in charges from the Child Maintenance Service since charging was introduced in June 2014.

Caroline Nokes: The introduction of fees and ongoing collection charges are designed to act as an incentive for parents to pause and consider the different options available to them for a child maintenance arrangement, rather than applying to the statutory Child Maintenance Service 'by default'. Charges make a small contribution to the service that is heavily subsidised by the taxpayer.The Government has received £11,298,200 in charges, from the Child Maintenance Service between June 2014 when charging was introduced and March 2016 which is the latest period covered in the DWP annual report and accounts.

State Retirement Pensions

Natalie McGarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it remains Government policy to continue the triple-lock guarantee on the basic state pension throughout the lifetime of the current Parliament.

Richard Harrington: Yes, the Government is committed to the triple lock for the duration of the current Parliament.

Social Security Benefits: Peterborough

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families in Peterborough constituency are subject to the most recent changes in the welfare benefit cap; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Nokes: It is estimated that around 200 households in Peterborough constituency will be affected by the lower benefit cap in 2016/17.Notes:1. Estimates assume no behavioural responses - any behavioural responses to the lower cap, such as claimants moving into employment, would cause the number of households affected to reduce2. This figure is rounded to the nearest 100 households 3. The methodology used to estimate the households affected by the cap is consistent with that described in the latest impact assessment published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/welfare-reform-and-work-act-impact-assessment-for-the-benefit-capThe benefit cap will be lowered from 7th November from £26,000 to £20,000, except in London where it will be lowered to £23,000. To help ensure Local Authorities are able to protect the most vulnerable Housing Benefit claimants and to support households adjusting to our welfare reforms, the Government will provide £870m funding for Discretionary Housing Payments over the next 5 years. Information about this and other measures to ease the transition for families affected by this policy change is included in the latest impact assessment at the link above.

Jobcentre Plus: Staff

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many disability employment advisers were employed in his Department in each year since 2009.

Damian Hinds: The number of Disability Employment Advisers that were employed in the Department for Work and Pensions since 20092009/20104882010/20115232011/20125262012/20135172013/20145832014/20153122015/20162122016/2017 (as at September 2016)308 From 2015 onwards many Disability Employment Advisors became Work Coaches as part of the new delivery model and as the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance reduced. Up to 300 more Disability Employment Advisors are currently being recruited, taking the total to over 500, to work alongside Work Coaches.

Department for Work and Pensions: Staff

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-payroll staff are employed in his Department; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such staff in the financial year to date.

Caroline Nokes: There are currently 619 non-payroll staff employed in DWP through the Crown Commercial Service ‘CL1’ Framework. Year to date spend on non-payroll staff is £66,988,161. To be clear the year to date spend covers all non-payroll staff; some of whom are no longer employed by DWP.

Employment: Disability

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects that the goal of halving the disability employment gap will be achieved.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what change in the disability employment gap he expects between 2015 and 2020.

Penny Mordaunt: We are committed to halving the disability employment gap. We have seen almost 500,000 more disabled people in employment over the past three years. Over the same time we’ve seen the employment rate for disabled people increase by over 4 percentage points, where it now stands at 48 per cent.We have a range of activity underway that is focused on the evidence gaps we have identified including access to services and levels of support we should offer. This will help us to develop new models of support to help people into work when they are managing a long term health condition or disability. We want all employers to be as supportive as possible so that everyone can go as far as their talents will take them.But we know that there is much more that needs to be done, so that everyone who can work is given the right support and opportunities to do so.This is why we have published “Improving Lives: The Work, Health and Disability Green Paper”. It sets out the short-term action we intend to take to bring about change. It also asks questions on proposals for longer-term reform over this Parliament and beyond, so that our systems, sectors and social attitudes all work together to help achieve the ambition of halving the disability employment gap.Halving the gap is a long term project and although the Government has an important role to play in leading the way and facilitating change, everyone needs to play their part, which is why we are launching this consultation.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tommy Sheppard: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that all claimants suffering from any progressive and incurable condition will be exempt from employment and support allowance medical re-assessment.

Penny Mordaunt: As announced on 1 October, we will stop requiring people with the most severe, lifetime conditions to be repeatedly assessed for their out-of-work benefits. Over the coming months we will work with our health assessment provider, medical professionals and other stakeholders to develop a set of criteria to switch off re-assessments for people with the most severe health conditions or disabilities.

Department for Work and Pensions: Digital Technology

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many contractors employed by his Department to work on DWP Digital projects have left the employment of his Department in the 2016-17 financial year to date.

Caroline Nokes: DWP Digital has worked with some 652 contractors delivering deep technical expertise to the Department over this financial year 2016/17. Since the start of the financial year we have seen 293 contractors leave DWP Digital, this number includes those contractors whose work had finished and/or where we have managed to fill the post on a permanent basis. As of 02/11/16 we have 359 contractors on board. Since the start of the financial year DWP Digital has successfully recruited 376 permanent staff.

Department for Work and Pensions: Digital Technology

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department has spent on DWP Digital for each target set in the 2016-17 financial year to date.

Caroline Nokes: The information requested is not available by target set as requested, and to map costs to targets would incur disproportionate costs to the Department as we have shared systems, infrastructure and data. The digital year to date spend as at 30th September 2016 was £516.8m.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many apprenticeships have been created in his Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.

Mark Lancaster: This information is not held in the format requested. The Cabinet Office is currently coordinating a detailed data collection from across Government including the apprenticeship type, region of work, as well as demographic data and socio-economic background. This will allow the Civil Service to report on its contribution towards the national target. Information on the number of apprenticeships created in the Ministry of Defence in each of the last five years is shown below. Financial Year2011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16Number of Apprenticeships5568121181346  In addition, the Armed Forces are the biggest provider of apprenticeships within the UK. Completion rates for Level 2 and Level 3 apprenticeships in the Armed Forces by Academic Year for 2011-12 and 2012-13 are shown below. Level 2 Apprenticeships - 1 August 2011- 31 July 2012Level 2 Apprenticeships - 1 August 2012- 31 July 2013Level 3 Apprenticeships - 1 August 2011- 31 July 2012Level 3 Apprenticeships - 1 August 2012- 31 July 2013Army4,5073,1161,6821,763Royal Navy2,1822,006339334Royal Air Force764693665618Total7,864*5,891*3,134*2,893**total numbers include apprenticeships completed by Service personnel.

Cyprus: Armed Forces

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many pupils attended service children's education schools in Cyprus in each year since 2010.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many pupils attended service children's education schools in Germany in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster: The number of pupils on roll at summer term census is shown below.  Academic Year   2009-102010-112011-122012-132013-142014-152015-16Germany7,9267,6196,9885,9224,9703,6792,074Cyprus1,6001,5071,4291,3931,4591,5061,560

Nuclear Submarines: Decommissioning

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which submarine will undergo Initial Dismantling at Rosyth.

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on maintenance and checks for the nuclear-powered submarines in laid-up storage at (a) Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport and (b) Rosyth Dockyard.

Harriett Baldwin: The Ministry of Defence has spent to date a total of circa. £34.4 million on the maintenance and checks carried out by the Department and regulators on the decommissioned submarines that are awaiting disposal. The approximate figures for Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport and Rosyth Dockyard are circa. £11.9 million and £22.5 million respectively. The first submarine to undergo initial dismantling under the Submarine Dismantling Programme will be HMS Swiftsure.

Corruption

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2016 to Question 49700, how many of the allegations of bribery and corruption referred by his Department to law enforcement agencies involved the bribery of foreign public officials; and how many of those referrals resulted in law enforcement action being taken.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of the allegations of bribery and corruption his Department referred to law enforcement agencies resulted in a company being found guilty.

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2016 to Question 49700, how many of the allegations of bribery and corruption referred by his Department to law enforcement agencies involved (a) UK companies and (b) foreign companies; and if he will release the names of those companies and the results of any investigations.

Harriett Baldwin: Four allegations were referred to law enforcement agencies that involved the bribery/corruption of a foreign public official.In relation to the further questions, concerning allegations of bribery and corruption, the detailed information requested will take time to collate and I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Home Office

Housing: Fire Prevention

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking further to reduce the number of fires in homes.

Brandon Lewis: The Department’s Fire Kills campaign, run in close partnership with fire and rescue services in England, promotes a range of domestic fire safety messages to ensure householders take appropriate action to prevent accidental fires and understand how best they can protect themselves and their families. Fire Kills national advertising, launching later this month, will run for four weeks reminding people of the importance of smoke alarms and the need to test them monthly to ensure they are working in the event of a fire. Beyond the advertising, the Department works in partnership with a range of commercial and voluntary sector organisations to deliver targeted fire safety messages to relevant groups and communities.Throughout the year, the campaign runs a range of initiatives and awareness weeks, often in collaboration with relevant agencies. These activities raise awareness of key fire safety messages nationally, while providing a framework for local delivery and engagement by fire and rescue services who have statutory duty to promote fire safety in their areas to the extent it considers it reasonable to do so.

Housing: Fire Prevention

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with stakeholders on fire safety in care homes and specialised housing.

Brandon Lewis: Home Office officials are represented on the working group that has been established by the Chief Fire Officers’ Association to develop fire safety guidance for the providers and regulators of housing schemes where care services are provided within the home.

Fire Prevention: Electrical Safety

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to use the Fire Kills campaign to increase awareness of fires caused by electricity.

Brandon Lewis: The Fire Kills campaign is planned to launch and run for four weeks across national media. The campaign, run in close partnership with Fire and Rescue Services in England, seeks to prevent deaths from all types of fire in the home. The campaign encourages the public to test their smoke alarms regularly to ensure they are working in the event in any type of fire, including those caused by electricity.In addition, Fire Kills and Electrical Safety First have a longstanding and close partnership to promote electrical fire safety messages, including through the annual Electrical Fire Safety Week, which runs in November each year.The campaign also supports the Register My Appliance initiative, run by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances. This is designed to improve recall rates and ensure a greater number of faulty products can be traced and either repaired or removed from homes.

Fires: Electronic Equipment

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with fire and rescue services on including in the data collated by her Department the number of fires caused by (a) mobile telephone chargers and (b) e-cigarettes.

Brandon Lewis: Home Office officials have regular discussions with fire and rescue services about the data collected through the Incident Recording System how e-cigarettes should be specifically categorised in future. Fires related to mobile phone chargers are captured under the category ‘Battery Charger’. There were 109 accidental fires recorded as being ignited by battery chargers in England in 2014/15.National Statistics on the causes and locations of fires are published annually in, Fire Statistics England’. The most recent publication for 21014/15 can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fire-statistics-england-april-2014-to-march-2015Accompanying data tables can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fire-statistics-data-tablesThe next publication of ‘Fire Statistics England, for 2015/16, is due for release in 2017

Fire Prevention

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much her Department has spent on awareness raising campaigns on (a) fire safety and (b) electrical fires in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office took responsibility for Fire Kills from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in April this year. For each of the last five years, responsibility for fire policy, and therefore the Fire Kills campaign, sat with the DCLG. Therefore, previous spend on the Fire Kills campaign was met by DCLG.

Domestic Appliances: Fire Hazards

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the fire risk from faulty white goods.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office has collaborated with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to support the Register My Appliance initiative, run by the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Electrical Appliances. This is designed to improve recall rates and ensure a greater number of faulty products can be traced and either repaired or removed from homes. In addition, the Department partners with Electrical Safety First to promote their Product Recall Checker.

Schools: Fire Prevention

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on fire safety in school buildings.

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions her Department has had with the Department for Education on automatic fire sprinkler systems in schools.

Brandon Lewis: My officials are engaged with the officials in the Department for Education on a range of issues relating to fire safety in schools following the Department for Education’s recent consultation on its proposal to update its fire safety in schools guidance document.

Schools: Fires

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the average cost to the public purse of a school fire in the latest period for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: We have not estimated the costs of fires in schools.The latest published figures on fires in schools can be found in “Fire Statistics Great Britain: 2013/14” - https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fire-statistics-great-britain-2013-to-2014 and show that there were 593 fires in schools in 2013/14.

Housing: Fires

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment the Government has made of the effect and cost of fires in the home caused by electricity.

Brandon Lewis: We do not hold this information centrally.

Fire Extinguishers

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to promote the benefits of sprinkler systems.

Brandon Lewis: Building regulations already cover the use of sprinklers where they are necessary to protect people’s lives such as in high rise flats, shopping malls and large retail warehouses open to the public.The benefits of sprinklers are set out clearly in the guidance the Government makes available to assist those with fire safety responsibilities under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. This aims to help businesses and others to make informed decisions on the fire safety measures that are appropriate for their particular circumstances.While we recognise that sprinklers are effective, in many cases, they are not the only, or the most cost-effective, option for fire protection. The part sprinklers play in any fire safety strategy should be determined by the findings of the fire risk assessment for the building or premises.

Fire and Rescue Services: Standards

Carolyn Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions her Department has had with (a) fire and rescue authorities, (b) the Fire Brigades Union and (c) other fire and rescue service stakeholders on the development of national professional standards and the establishment of a standards body to drive sector improvement.

Brandon Lewis: The creation of professional standards for the service is a key element of the Government’s fire reform agenda and it regularly features in our discussions with a wide range of sector partners including the Chief Fire Officers’ Association, the Fire Bridges’ Union and the Local Government Association.

Pathology

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken as a result of the recommendation made in the Hutton review of forensic pathology in England and Wales, submitted to the Minister of State for Crime and Prevention in March 2015, that regional centres should be established.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken in response to the recommendation in paragraph 4.1.4 of the Hutton review of forensic pathology in England and Wales on (a) introducing a publicly-funded salaried service for forensic pathologists and (b) job planning coronial autopsy sessions within NHS contracts.

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken as a result of the recommendation made in the Hutton review of forensic pathology in England and Wales, submitted to the Minister of State for Crime and Prevention in March 2015, that consideration should be given to the current fee structure payable for autopsies and possibly revised on the basis that you get what you pay for.

Brandon Lewis: This recommendation is part of potential wider structural change that forms part of advice on options, currently being considered by Home Office Ministers, for taking forward the recommendations in the Hutton Review of forensic pathology in England and Wales.

Pathology

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken as a result of the recommendations made in the Hutton review of forensic pathology in England and Wales, submitted to the Minister of State for Crime and Prevention in March 2015, that (a) there needs to be greater interchange between forensic and general pathology training systems and (b) the threshold for referring such cases up the supervisory ladder should be low.

Brandon Lewis: This recommendation is part of potential wider structural change that forms part of advice on options, currently being considered by Home Office Ministers, for taking forward the recommendations in the Hutton Review of forensic pathology in England and Wales.The Home Office is not responsible for police procedures but has worked with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing in revising national policy for first officers attending in line with the Hutton recommendation.

Death

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government has taken as a result of the recommendation made in the Hutton review of forensic pathology in England and Wales, submitted to the Minister of State for Crime and Prevention in March 2015, that pathologists and other clinicians, police and coroners and their officers all need to be sensitive to the difficulties surrounding communication and understanding that arise in a multi-cultural society when death occurs in order to do what is possible to manage the situation.

Brandon Lewis: The Home Office has raised this recommendation with the police, Ministry of Justice and the Chief Coroner’s Office. In respect of Home Office forensic pathologists such issues are addressed in their two week Criminal Justice Course they attend prior to acceptance on the Home Office Register.

Police: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to maintain frontline police officer numbers in Cumbria under the revised funding formula.

Brandon Lewis: Reforming the police funding formula remains a key priority for this Government and we are engaging with the sector to look at the options for taking this work forward.We are clear that the size and makeup of the police workforce and how they are deployed will remain local decisions for Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables.

South Yorkshire Police

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will release all Cabinet papers relating to events at Orgreave in 1984.

Brandon Lewis: Cabinet Papers are a matter for the Cabinet Office.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Working Hours

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many officials of his Department have opted out of the EU Working Time Directive.

David Mundell: No officials in the Scotland Office have opted out of the EU Working Time Directive.

Offshore Industry

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress has been made on the development of a long-term decommissioning strategy for the North Sea oil and gas industry to (a) ensure the development of that industry and (b) maintain the role of that industry in the Scottish economy.

David Mundell: The UK Government is well-aware of the importance of the oil and gas sector to the economy and in the last two budgets we announced radical packages of tax measures worth £2.3bn to ensure the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) remains an attractive destination for investment. (a) The Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) has been set up to regulate, influence and promote the UK oil and gas industry and maximise economic recovery of the UK’s oil and gas resources; (b) The OGA has recently published its decommissioning strategy and delivery programme. This outlines how the OGA, government and industry will work together, and is available online at: https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/news-publications/publications/2016/decommissioning-strategy/ https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/news-publications/publications/2016/decommissioning-delivery-programme/

HM Treasury

Concentrix: Bristol West

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of tax credit cases awaiting consideration by Concentrix in Bristol West constituency.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will conduct a review of the effect of erroneous decisions by Concentrix on people in (a) Bristol West and (b) the UK.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Bristol West constituency have had a tax credit claim stopped by Concentrix; and how many such people have subsequently had their claim reinstated by HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will be preparing regional analysis of tax credits claims and mandatory reconsideration requests in due course.As announced on 7th October, the National Audit Office will also be conducting an investigation into HMRC’s contract with Concentrix.

EU Grants and Loans: Bristol

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government has made of the effect on (a) Bristol West and (b) Bristol City Council area of the shortfall in funding from the European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund after the 2014 to 2020 programme has ended.

Mr David Gauke: As the Chancellor outlined at the Treasury Select Committee recently, the government is carrying out a range of analysis, which will help to inform the Prime Minister’s negotiating strategy. The government has provided a guarantee for all European structural and investment fund projects signed before the Autumn Statement. The government has also guaranteed all European structural projects signed after the Autumn Statement and before the UK’s departure from the European Union, provided that they pass the value-for-money test and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.

Economic Situation: South West

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government is conducting a regional assessment of the effect of the UK leaving the EU on (a) Bristol West, (b) Bristol City Council area and (c) the region covered by the Counties formerly known as Avon.

Mr David Gauke: As the Chancellor outlined at the Treasury Select Committee recently, the government is carrying out a range of analysis, which will help to inform the Prime Minister’s negotiating strategy. The government has provided a guarantee for all European structural and investment fund projects signed before the Autumn Statement. The government has also guaranteed all European structural projects signed after the Autumn Statement and before the UK’s departure from the European Union, provided that they pass the value-for-money test and are in line with domestic strategic priorities.

Football: Taxation

Gloria De Piero: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that high net worth footballers pay the correct amount of income tax.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ensures that High Net Worth Individuals pay the right amount of tax by applying the appropriate PAYE/NIC regulations correctly and by requiring them to declare the appropriate tax due through their personal tax return under the Self-Assessment system. This is monitored by HMRC’s “High Net Worth Unit”.

Treasury: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by his Department in the last 12 months.

Simon Kirby: The Department does not directly procure steel in the undertaking of its operations.

Child Tax Credits

Justin Tomlinson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to allow payments of child tax credits to bereaved partners to be backdated to the date of the death of their partner.

Mr David Gauke: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) recognises that this will be a difficult time for claimants. HMRC is therefore part of the “tell us once” service that allows people to report a death and inform a number of government services at one time rather than individually. When HMRC is informed of the death of a claimant it makes contact with any surviving partner to help them make a new claim, if they are entitled to it. Child Tax Credit claimants can have their claim backdated for up to 31 days. This includes those who are making a claim following a bereavement. There are no plans to change this.

Sports: Regulation

Justin Tomlinson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce the level of regulation on community and amateur sports clubs.

Jane Ellison: Following a consultation across the sector, new regulations were put in place on 1 April 2015. These regulations seek to balance necessary regulation of a varied sector and support for this important group. The Government will continue to monitor the regulation and effectiveness of charitable tax reliefs within the scheme and more widely.

Further Education and Sixth Form Education: VAT

Peter Kyle: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth form colleges paid in VAT in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes annual home VAT liabilities for each trade sector as defined by the ’Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities’. This is shown in Table 2.5 of the VAT Factsheet and includes home VAT liabilities for the ‘Education’ sector, and is available here: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Statistical%20Factsheets/VAT_Factsheet_16.xls  HMRC is not able to separate this data into amounts of VAT paid by further education and sixth form colleges.

Concentrix: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in (a) Warrington and (b) Warrington North constituency have (i) been wrongly accused by Concentrix of falsely claiming tax credits and (ii) had tax credits wrongly withdrawn.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs will be preparing a regional breakdown of mandatory reconsideration requests in due course.

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Kirsty Blackman: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) average waiting time was for a call to be answered, (b) average length of each answered call and (c) longest waiting time was to the HM Revenue and Customs' publicised helplines in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publishes regular performance reports, which are published on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-plan-indicators . Improvements to services have been made and HMRC are now consistently answering 90% of calls first time, with an average speed of answer of under five minutes over the past six months The average length of each answered call for each month for the past available 12 months is as follows:MonthMinutes: secondsOct-1509:13Nov-1509:03Dec-1508:37Jan-1608:20Feb-1608:32Mar-1608:37Apr-1608:28May-1608:34Jun-1608:45Jul-1608:27Aug-1608:06Sep-1607:58

Married People: Tax Allowances

Tim Farron: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are eligible for marriage tax allowance; and of those people, how many have taken it up.

Jane Ellison: 4.2 million couples are eligible for the Marriage Allowance. As of 2 November, over one million couples have successfully claimed the allowance.

Civil Servants: Pensions

Simon Hart: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions his Department has had with the (a) Wales Office and (b) Welsh Government on the devolution of income tax powers and the effect of such devolution on people receiving overseas civil service pensions who are currently exempt from double taxation.

Jane Ellison: There are regular conversations between UK Government Departments, and between the UK Government and the Welsh Government on a range of issues.

Self-employed: Fraud

Julie Elliott: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of fraudulent self-employment on the UK economy.

Jane Ellison: The Government takes false self-employment seriously, and is committed to taking action where companies, to reduce their costs, force their staff down routes which deny them the employment rights and benefits that they are entitled to. The Prime Minister has asked Matthew Taylor to lead an independent review to consider how employment practices need to change in order to keep pace with modern business models.

Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by his Department in the last 12 months.

Chris Skidmore: The information is not centrally held in the form requested. Over the last year Government has acted to level the playing field for UK steel producers in light of the complex global challenges faced by the UK steel sector. Last December Government issued guidance to central government departments on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. This guidance is also being extended to the wider public sector.

Civil Servants: Recruitment

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to change the way in which it measures the socio-economic background of (a) Fast Stream and (b) Fast Track apprentice scheme applicants.

Chris Skidmore: In March 2016 we published the refresh of our Talent Action Plan setting out our commitment to ensure that the civil service becomes the most inclusive employer in the UK. We are taking forward a number of initiatives to attract and progress people from diverse background in our workforce. These include The Civil Service committing to deliver at least 30,000 apprenticeship starts in England by 2020, introducing name-blind sifting for job applications, and leading work with other employers to develop a common set of measures to understand socio-economic background in workforces and applicants for jobs. We will adopt the new measures, when developed, to better understand the socio-economic background of Fast Stream and Fast Track Apprentice scheme applicants.

Civil Servants: Recruitment

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he has made on re-designing the Fast Stream selection process to reduce its length from 18-31 weeks to 12 weeks.

Chris Skidmore: The Fast Stream selection process has been significantly re-designed in order to reduce the application to hire timeline, and also enhance the socio-economic diversity of those applying and selected. This re-design was introduced in September 2016. This year, we intend to decrease the length of time to offer to around 16 weeks (a reduction from between 18 – 31 weeks last year) for the majority of candidates and move to 12 weeks next year. This will allow us to gather sufficient applicant data to be confident of our assessment decision-making within the re-designed approach.

Cabinet Office: Apprentices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many apprenticeships have been created in his Department in each region in each of the last five years; and how many participants in those apprenticeships subsequently secured a job within the Civil Service.

Chris Skidmore: Since 2011, Cabinet Office has created 208 apprenticeships. Information on subsequently permanent employment in the Civil Service is not centrally held.The table below provides a breakdown of the number of apprenticeships created in each financial year since 2011. The locations reflect the fact the Cabinet Office is primarily based in London.YearNumber of apprenticeships createdLocation2011/128London2012/1325London2013/1433London (32) Liverpool (1)2014/1538London2015/1648London (45) Norwich (1) Bristol (1) Liverpool (1)2016/1756*London (54) Norwich (1) Liverpool (1)*Figure at end of October 2016

Written Questions

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has given to other government departments on answering Written Parliamentary Questions using a reference to the gov.uk website without referring hon. Members to a specific page where the information sought can be found.

Chris Skidmore: Ministers are responsible for the answers they give to Parliamentary questions. As explained within the Guidance on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions, it is the Minister’s right and responsibility to decide on how to fulfil their obligations as set out within the Ministerial Code. Each Department is responsible for issuing their own guidance to employees on the Departmental requirements for answers to Parliamentary Questions.

Brexit

Paul Flynn: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 49982, which Minister will exercise the prerogative to trigger Article 50 of the Treaty on the Functions of the EU on behalf of the sovereign.

Chris Skidmore: Holding answer received on 04 November 2016



The Prime Minister is clear that she will trigger Article 50 no later than the end of March next year.The government is disappointed by Thursday's High Court judgement, but we have no intention of letting this change our timetable for triggering Article 50. We will appeal this judgement.

Government Departments: Sanitation

Robert Flello: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which government departments allow professional drivers making deliveries to departmental premises to use employee toilet facilities.

Chris Skidmore: It is for individual departments to determine their own access arrangements. The Cabinet Office's own protective security arrangements apply to staff, contractors and all visitors. It is not the policy of the department to publish what those arrangements are.

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent estimate he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by his Department since it was established.

Mark Garnier: The information is not centrally held in the form requested. Over the last year Government has acted to level the playing field for UK steel producers in light of the complex global challenges faced by the UK steel sector. Last December Government issued guidance to central government departments on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. This guidance is also being extended to the wider public sector.

Trade Agreements

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with which governments of non-EU countries he has discussed future trade agreements since his Department was created.

Mark Garnier: We will take advantage of all the opportunities available to us to ensure that Britain becomes the global leader in free trade once we leave the EU. As the Prime Minister has recently said, countries including Canada, China, India, Mexico, Singapore and South Korea have already told us they would welcome talks on future free trade agreements. And we have already agreed to start scoping discussions on trade agreements with Australia. More recently, my Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade announced the establishment of a UK-New Zealand trade policy dialogue that will cover market access and trade policy issues of mutual interest.

Trade Agreements

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government plans to provide a mechanism for (a) British citizens, (b) the voluntary sector and non-governmental organisations, (c) local authorities, (d) the devolved administrations and (e) Parliament to have an input on the terms and priorities of the bilateral trade deals the UK will negotiate when it leaves the EU.

Mark Garnier: Engaging with stakeholders will play a vital role in informing the development of the UK’s approach to trade. We are currently engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and over the coming weeks and months we will continue to do so.We have established the [emailprotected]/*  */!function(t,e,r,n,c,a,p){try{t=document.currentScript||function(){for(t=document.getElementsByTagName('script'),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute('data-cfhash'))return t[e]}();if(t&&(c=t.previousSibling)){p=t.parentNode;if(a=c.getAttribute('data-cfemail')){for(e='',r='0x'+a.substr(0,2)|0,n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)e+='%'+('0'+('0x'+a.substr(n,2)^r).toString(16)).slice(-2);p.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(decodeURIComponent(e)),c)}p.removeChild(t)}}catch(u){}}()/*  */ mailbox as the existing mechanism for receiving input from external stakeholders. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this approach as we get closer to the time when we may be negotiating trade deals.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Homelessness

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when and how he plans to publish the work programme of the ministerial group on homelessness; and how voluntary and community organisations are represented on that group.

Mr Marcus Jones: We are driving action right across government to tackle the root causes of homelessness in England through the Ministerial Working Group on homelessness. We do not currently have any plans to publish a work programme for the Working Group, but are working across departments to make sure tackling homelessness is an integral part of every department’s planning. This is an ongoing process.The Minister also chairs a regular roundtable meeting with voluntary sector organisations to make sure their views and expertise are fed into homelessness policy and to ensure that the future response to homelessness:is focused more on prevention than crisis;develops a common understanding of ’what works’, and drives the spreading of good practice;encourages services to join up around the needs of vulnerable homeless people, including through using data; andmaximises the opportunities presented by devolution in empowering local areas to restructure services from the bottom up and drive improvements in the service response.The government publishes a list of all ministerial meetings with external bodies on departmental business on a quarterly basis. This is available at www.gov.uk.Homelessness is a devolved issue in the rest of the UK.

Shared Ownership Schemes

Mr Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to improve the supply of shared equity affordable housing in (a) Peterborough and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

Gavin Barwell: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Homelessness: Disability and Mental Illness

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on the number of street homeless people with a (a) disability or (b) mental health condition.

Mr Marcus Jones: Sleeping rough is rarely the result of a housing crisis alone and we know that many rough sleepers and homeless people have complex needs, such as mental health difficulties, which result in poor life chances.The Government is committed to preventing and reducing homelessness for everyone. That is why we have launched a £40 million Homelessness Prevention Programme to ensure there is an end-to-end approach to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping, and provide the support people need to recover from their homelessness crisis. This includes £10 million of Social Impact Bond funding to provide targeted support for entrenched single homeless people, including those with physical and mental heath needs.The Department does not hold information on the health needs of rough sleepers at a national level. There is information on the mental health support needs of rough sleepers in London available from the Greater London Authority at: https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate she has made of the level of procurement of British steel by her Department in the last 12 months.

George Eustice: The information is not centrally held in the form requested. Over the last year Government has acted to level the playing field for UK steel producers in light of the complex global challenges faced by the UK steel sector. Last December Government issued guidance to central government departments on how to ensure that they take full account of the value provided by UK steel producers when conducting their procurement activities. This guidance is also being extended to the wider public sector.

Ferries: Domestic Animals

Dr Paul Monaghan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to prevent ferry companies from requiring companion animals, such as dogs and cats, to remain inside vehicles and unattended during ferry journeys.

George Eustice: Carriers who transport companion animals are obliged to meet the requirements of the EU Welfare in Transport Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 as well as either The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (England) Order 2006, or The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Order 2006 or The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Wales) Order 2007, depending on where the animals arrive in Great Britain. Commercial carriers, such as ferry companies, specify their own terms and conditions of carriage for companion animals and this provides the most appropriate way of meeting both animal welfare and operational needs.

Livestock: Exports

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many live (a) sheep and (b) cattle have been exported from the UK to other European countries in 2016; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: (a) Live sheep exported from the UK to EU Member States from 1 January 2016 to 31 October 2016: UK to Republic of Ireland 337,385UK to EU (except Republic of Ireland) 48,039Total to all EU Member States 385,424(b) Live cattle exported from the UK to EU Member States from 1 January 2016 to 31 October 2016: UK to Republic of Ireland 12,159UK to EU (except Republic of Ireland) 21,702Total to all EU Member States 33,861   These figures have been collated from the EU Commission’s Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) Data Warehouse and include trade to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries) who accept EU trade. The figures include sheep and cattle exported for the purposes of breeding, production/fattening and slaughter.

Genetically Modified Organisms: Imports

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on importing genetically modified organisms after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: The Government will continue to follow a science-based policy on genetically modified organisms, including in relation to imports.

Food: EU Law

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on maintaining the standards set out in EU food standards directives after the UK has left the EU.

George Eustice: No decisions have yet been taken about the UK’s future relationship with the EU including on matters relating to existing EU law. We will ensure that food standards are maintained in the UK to provide continued high standards for consumers and stability for business.

Animal Welfare

Ms Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish her Department's review into animal establishments licensing in England.

George Eustice: We expect to publish a document setting out our proposals on our review of the animal activities licensing in dur course.

Dairy Products: Prices

Dr Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what dates she has met representatives from the milk industry to discuss raising dairy prices.

George Eustice: I meet representatives of the UK dairy industry regularly. The most recent meeting was on 2 November in the form of the Dairy Quad, with representatives of the NFU, DairyUK and the AHDB, where we discussed a range of issues affecting this important industry which has been experiencing a difficult market situation for the last two years.

Dogs: Sales

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) end third-party sales of puppies and (b) regulate adverts relating to the private sale of puppies.

George Eustice: We are currently reviewing the animal activities licensing schemes, including the breeding and selling of pet animals. We will, in due course, publish a document setting out our proposals for modernising the animal activities licensing schemes.

Livestock: Transport

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many vehicles the Animal and Plant Agency has inspected (a) during the loading of live animals and (b) at ports from which live animals have been exported in each of the last three years.

George Eustice: Number of vehicles the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has inspected:(a) during the loading of live animals:99 during 201466 during 2015127 during 2016 (b) at ports from which live animals have been exported:96 during 2014121 during 201572 during 2016

Department of Health

Cancer: Diagnosis

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2016 to Question 48238 on cancer: diagnosis, how he plans to allocated the £300 million per year to improve cancer diagnostics in 2016-17.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2016 to Question 48238 on cancer: diagnosis, how and by what criteria he plans to evaluate the effectiveness of the spending of £300 million per year to improve diagnostic capacity of cancers.

David Mowat: In September 2015 we committed, in response to the recommendations set out in the Cancer Taskforce report, to provide up to £300 million more per year for diagnostics by 2020/21. The 2016/17 Planning Guidance for Clinical Commissioning Groups advises them to ensure they plan for appropriate diagnostic capacity as one of the nine ‘must dos’.As part of the commitment to improve access to diagnostics, in 2016/17 NHS England allocated an additional investment of £15 million in a new National Diagnostics Capacity Fund to explore new and innovative ways to deliver diagnostic services, a new 28 Day Faster Diagnosis Standard, which will ensure that all patients are seen and either diagnosed or have their cancer ruled out within 28 days, and Wave 2 of the Accelerate, Coordinate, Evaluate (ACE) programme, testing a new, multi-disciplinary diagnostic centre approach to ensuring patients with vague but concerning symptoms receive a diagnosis as quickly as possible.We are monitoring progress with access to diagnostics through a range of process measures such as diagnostic activity, referrals on the urgent suspected cancer pathway and waiting times, and through measures such as the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stages 1 and 2 and emergency routes to diagnosis.We are also evaluating individual programmes such as ACE.

Department of Health: Iron and Steel

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the level of procurement of British steel by his Department in the last 12 months.

David Mowat: The Department has procured no steel directly in the last 12 months. Where required, the majority of steel is purchased by the National Health Service and this is a local decision with no data collected centrally. The contractors on the Department’s Procure21+ framework have confirmed that approximately 3,000 tonnes of British steel was procured by them for projects delivered for and by the NHS in the last 12 months. We are unable to provide estimates for projects delivered outside the P21+ framework as this would require writing to each NHS organisation and would incur a disproportionate cost. The Department promulgates all central guidance on the procurement of steel to the NHS, including the Cabinet Office Guidance ‘Procurement Practise Note 16/15 - procuring steel in major projects’ and has included this as a contractual requirement in the new Procure22 design and construction framework.

Medical Treatments

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of its staff being unable to work because of lack of availability of medical treatment funded by clinical commissioning groups.

Mr Philip Dunne: The information needed to make such an estimate is not collected centrally. Employers are responsible for managing sickness absence of their staff and taking action to support their health and wellbeing so they can stay at work and many already provide access to physiotherapy for musculoskeletal problems as well as counselling for mental health and stress. NHS England is leading a £5 million campaign to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of National Health Service staff working with Public Health England, NHS Employers and trusts across the NHS. They are creating capacity to improve help for staff on the major causes of ill health including access to physiotherapy and mental health talking therapies, as well as smoking cessation and weight management services. Subject to evaluation at 10 trusts, these services will be rolled out more widely in due course.

Prescriptions

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on the number of clinical commissioning groups that have undertaken an equality impact assessment before making changes to their prescription policy.

David Mowat: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for decisions on commissioning health services to best meet the needs of their local population and are accountable for local prescribing policy decisions. In commissioning services CCGs will reflect the needs of local people and support improvements in health and healthcare outcomes.

Hepatitis: Greater London

Victoria Borwick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with (a) NHS England, (b) clinical commissioning groups and (c) local authorities in London on ensuring appropriate services are in place to increase the number of people who use or have used drugs who are tested for and diagnosed with hepatitis C.

Victoria Borwick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England and operational delivery networks in London on ensuring that the new hepatitis C treatments are available to people who use or have used drugs.

Nicola Blackwood: We expect NHS England, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities to follow guidance issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on improving uptake of testing for hepatitis C (and B): https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph43 We also expect treatment for hepatitis C as approved by NICE to be available in line with the guidance issued to operational delivery networks by NHS England. Treatment is prioritised on clinical need and not on the presumed route of infection. The commissioning and care planning of treatment is supported by a number of documents including: Public Health Report on Commissioning of HCV services in London for People who Inject Drugs published in 2013 by the London Joint Working Group on Substance Use and Hepatitis C and NHS North West London: http://ljwg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/LJWG-2013-Public-Health-Report-on-Commissioning-of-HCV-services-in-London-for-People-who-Inject-Drugs.pdf Hepatitis Frequently asked questions, Briefing for councillors jointly published in 2013 by Public Health England (PHE) and the Local Government: http://www.local.gov.uk/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=f0e5b7b9-c32e-4c8e-a005-b5c4e87b0126&groupId=10180 Improving access to, and completion of, hepatitis C treatment published in 2015 by PHE: http://www.nta.nhs.uk/uploads/turning-evidence-into-practice-improving-access-to-hepatitis-c-treatment.pdf

Drugs: Regulation

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what potential (a) costs and (b) regulation costs the Government anticipates for medicines manufacturers in securing separate regulatory approval for products for the UK and the EU after the UK leaves the EU.

David Mowat: The Government has not made a decision on whether the United Kingdom will create a separate medicines approval regime once it leaves the European Union. As such, the Government is not in a position to speculate on licensing costs for a potential UK approvals regime.

Prescription Drugs

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to negotiate continued access to the EU's rapid alert procedure on recall for medicinal products after the UK leaves the EU.

David Mowat: The Government has made no firm decision on what medicines regulation will look like after the United Kingdom has left the European Union. Therefore, no decision has been taken on the UK’s future participation in the European Medicines Agency Procedure for Handling Rapid Alerts Arising from Quality Defects. The Government is considering all options for UK medicines regulation.

Clinical Commissioning Groups: Accountability

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what accountability mechanisms are in place for the scrutiny of decisions made by a clinical commissioning group's medicine management team.

David Mowat: The majority of clinical commissioning groups (CCG), including medicine management teams, are represented on wider Area Prescribing Committees (APCs). APCs work to support clinicians across their geographical area with evidence-based and cost effective prescribing decisions. CCGs will scrutinise decisions in different ways in accordance with their own governance arrangements.

Ophthalmology

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2016 to Question 41185, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that hospital-initiated postponement or cancellation of ophthalmology follow-up appointments do not result in sight loss.

David Mowat: As stated in the answer given to Question 41185, all follow-up appointments should take place when clinically appropriate. It is for doctors to make decisions on when they see patients, in line with their clinical priority, and patients should not experience undue delay at any stage of their referral, diagnosis or treatment. The appropriate interval for follow up appointments will vary between different services or specialties, and between individual patients, depending on the severity of their condition. To ensure that patients are seen at the appropriate time, NHS England has issued guidance which makes clear that when patients on planned lists are clinically ready for their care to commence and reach the date for their planned appointment, they should either receive that appointment or be transferred to an active waiting list.

Health Services: Veterans

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to improve knowledge and awareness among NHS staff on how to deliver the NHS Constitution's commitment on priority treatment for armed forces veterans.

David Mowat: NHS England has a specific payment framework in place to encourage care providers to raise staff awareness and training on priority treatment for armed forces veterans and this framework forms part of the 2016/17 contract held with all providers.

Medical Records: Veterans

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how NHS England ensures that every GP practice uses patient medical record codes to identify veteran status; and if he will make a statement.

David Mowat: NHS England promotes the use of the recently updated veteran specific patient medical record codes via the established Armed Forces Networks and events, the Royal College of General Practitioners Annual Conference, through NHS England primary care bulletins and professional medical journals.

Heart Diseases: Medical Treatments

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department is taking steps to make angioplasty available on the NHS to people with untreatable angina.

David Mowat: Angioplasty for the treatment of angina is already available on the National Health Service.

Dementia

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with clinical bodies on the potential link between dizziness and dementia.

David Mowat: The Department has not had any formal discussions with clinical bodies on the potential link between dizziness and dementia.

Medical Certificates: Fees and Charges

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of standardising the charge levied by GPs on patients for the provision of sick notes for benefit queries and other purposes.

David Mowat: General practitioners (GPs) are independent contractors who hold contracts with NHS England to provide primary medical services for the National Health Service. Under the terms of their contract, GPs are required to provide certain medical reports or complete certain forms, such as those required to support a claim for incapacity benefit, free of charge to their registered patients. Outside of contractual requirements, GPs also provide a variety of other services which successive governments have regarded as private matters between the patient and the GP providing these services. In such cases, decisions on whether to charge a fee and the level of the fee charged are at the GP’s discretion. Where GPs intend to charge for services to patients, the British Medical Association (BMA) advises them to forewarn patients, at the earliest opportunity, of the likely level of fees. The BMA also produces guidance on the level of fees that should be charged for various services.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young People

William Wragg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2016 to Question 48541, when and where the refreshed local transformation plans will be published; and what steps his Department will take to monitor how effectively those plans support the delivery of mental health services to children and young people.

Nicola Blackwood: From 2016-17 children and young people’s mental health is being mainstreamed as part of the normal NHS England planning cycle so that Local Transformation Plans are integrated into the wider Sustainability and Transformation Planning (STP) process. Local health economies have come together to develop STPs for their areas until 2020-21. Local areas will publish their plans shortly. STPs are expected to include actions to improve and invest in mental health services in line with the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health published by NHS England. Local areas submitted their plans on 21 October and NHS England is working with them to ensure that these measures have been adequately reflected.

Out-patients: Attendance

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure patients attend (a) GP and (b) acute services appointments.

David Mowat: With regard to general practice, NHS England is promoting the use of online booking and cancellation of appointments. Evidence shows that patients are more likely to cancel an appointment which is no longer needed, if the appointment was booked online. Furthermore, some general practitioner (GP) surgeries display information about lost clinic time potentially resulting from cancelled appointments which cannot be re-filled or from patients not attending appointments without any prior notification. The Department does not collect information on the number of missed and cancelled GP appointments. With regard to acute services, the NHS Constitution emphasises patients’ responsibilities to the National Health Service, including that they “should keep appointments, or cancel within reasonable time”. It is the responsibility of NHS organisations locally to plan for and take action to minimise the number of patients who fail to attend their appointments, for example, by reminding patients of their forthcoming appointments through the use of text message reminder systems. NHS England publishes quarterly data on hospital outpatient appointments. The proportion of hospital outpatient appointments that patients did not attend has fallen from 10.6% in 2008-09 to 8.9% in 2015-16.

Lung Diseases: Transplant Surgery

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on NHS waiting lists for lung transplants.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on NHS waiting lists for cornea transplants.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on NHS waiting lists for pancreas transplants.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on NHS waiting lists for small bowel transplants.

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are on NHS waiting lists for tissue transplants.

Nicola Blackwood: Up to date information on the number of people waiting for lung and pancreas transplant can be found on the NHS Blood and Transplant website at: https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/supporting-my-decision/statistics-about-organ-donation/ Five individuals are on the waiting list for intestinal transplants which include the small bowel. NHS Blood and Transplant does not maintain a national transplant list for corneas and tissues. These lists are maintained at local hospital level with surgical teams requesting corneas and tissues for a specific date. If the requested tissues are available they will then be issued to the hospital by NHS Blood and Transplant. Waiting list figures can fluctuate daily as patients are removed or added to the transplant list as their condition improves or deteriorates.

Nivolumab

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2014 to Question 40281, on what date he expects NICE to publish the results of the consultation on the guidance on the use of nivolumab for the treatment of lung cancer.

Nicola Blackwood: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently carrying out two separate technology appraisals of nivolumab (Opdivo) for previously treated locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer and previously treated locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small-cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy in adults. NICE is currently consulting on draft guidance for both appraisals and the closing date for comments is 4 November 2016. Subsequent timescales for guidance development are yet to be confirmed by NICE. NICE will publish comments received in response to the consultation and its responses alongside the next iteration of its draft guidance.

Mental Health Services: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of the funds allocated in the 2015 Budget to child and adolescent mental health services has been spent in Warrington.

Nicola Blackwood: Information is not available on the proportion of this funding spent in Warrington. We are advised by NHS England that, from the total additional funding for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services made available over this Parliament, the amount allocated to Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group was £420,000 in 2015/16 and £565,000 for 2016/17. These figures include a portion of the £30 million per year over the course of this Parliament for treatment of eating disorders in children and young people, announced in the 2014 Autumn Statement. Allocations for 2017/18 onwards have not yet been confirmed by NHS England.

NHS: Greater London

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, who was consulted during the development of NHS sustainability and transformation plans for (a) Haringey, (b) Enfield, (c) Barnet, (d) Camden, (e) Islington and (f) Hackney.

David Mowat: The five local authorities in North Central London (Haringey, Enfield, Barnet, Camden and Islington) are represented on the North Central London (NCL) Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) Transformation Board. The Board has overseen the development of the draft NCL STP which was submitted to NHS England on 21 October 2016. The local authorities are represented on the Transformation Board by their chief executives (or nominees). In addition the Director of Health, Housing and Adult Social Care for Enfield Council, the Director of Children’s Services for Haringey Council and the joint Director of Public Health for Camden and Islington Councils also sit on the Transformation Board as professional leads within NCL. The Chief Executive of Camden Council is the overall Senior Responsible Officer for the STP on behalf of the five local authorities within NCL. There has also been active local government input into the relevant workstreams within the STP such as prevention, care closer to home and workforce. These workstreams have developed the specific proposals which have been included within the overall draft STP. Prior to submission of the draft STP, NCL STP ran public stakeholder engagement events in each of the boroughs in September 2016, with input from health and local government. These events were run in conjunction with the local Healthwatch organisations.

NHS: Greater London

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to publish the draft sustainability and transformation plans for (a) Haringey, (b) Enfield, (c) Barnet, (d) Camden, (e) Islington and (f) Hackney.

David Mowat: It is expected that most areas will publish their plans shortly, alongside plans for more formal engagement during this period – building on the engagement they have already done.National health and care bodies have published guidance on the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) process. A copy of the guidance for STP areas can be found here:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/engag-local-people-stps.pdf

NHS Trusts: Finance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the financial situation of NHS trusts in England; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: The National Health Service leadership bodies have set out their own plan for delivering financial sustainability for the NHS, in the Five Year Forward View (October 2014) and Strengthening Financial Performance and Accountability document (July 2016). NHS Improvement reports progress against this plan for NHS providers on a quarterly basis. The Quarter 1 report was published (August 2016) and can be found at the following link: https://improvement.nhs.uk/uploads/documents/Q1_2016-17_Supplementary_Performance_Paper.pdf It is due to publish Quarter 2 later this month. Progress by the end of Quarter 1 is encouraging, with 15% fewer NHS providers in deficit than in the prior year and with the overwhelming majority of providers on track to hit the financial plans they have set out for the current year. There is no room for complacency. That is why the NHS needs to stick to its strong financial plan, supported by our £10 billion investment and series of measures to help hospitals become more efficient and reduce the use of expensive agency staff.

Diseases: Medical Treatments

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 50285, in relation to which diseases and other long-term conditions his Department has made an assessment of the future cost of treatment to NHS services.

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2016 to Question 50284, of which diseases and other long-term conditions he has made long-term assessments of future prevalence in the population of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

David Mowat: An ageing population and increasing multimorbidity means both prevalence of long term conditions (LTCs) and the associated treatment costs to the National Health Service are expected to increase. The Department’s Long Term Condition Compendium of Information, published in 2012, estimates that over 15 million children, adults and older people in England live with at least one LTC. This figure is set to increase to around 18 million by 2025. In addition, between 60% and 70% of the total health and care spend in England is associated with caring for people with LTCs. The annual health and social care cost per person per year for a person without an LTC is £1,000, this rises to £3,000 for those with one LTC, and £8,000 for those with three. The additional cost to the NHS and social care for the increase in co-morbidities is likely to be £5 billion in 2018 compared to 2011. The Compendium can be found at the link below:www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/216528/dh_134486.pdf

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Mental Health Five Year Forward View Dashboard, when he plans to publish data relating to the indicator on individual placement and support (IPS) reach and number of people getting access to IPS.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Mental Health Five Year Forward View Dashboard, when he plans to publish data relating to the indicator on outcome measures for integrated IAPT services.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Mental Health Five Year Forward View Dashboard, when he plans to publish data relating to the indicator on net movement of people off benefits or into employment from IAPT.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Mental Health Five Year Forward View Dashboard, when he plans to publish data relating to the indicator on average waiting time measure for children and young people's mental health.

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Mental Health Five Year Forward View Dashboard, when his Department plans to publish data relating to the indicator on IPS Programme spend.

Nicola Blackwood: NHS England is working in collaboration with the Department, NHS Improvement and NHS Digital to improve the data available to track progress in mental health services. The mental health dashboard pulls together in the public domain, for the first time, measures across a number of mental health indicators. The dashboard will develop alongside work to deliver against the recommendations in the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health. The mental health dashboard also includes a number of ‘placeholder’ measures and a further list of measures which will be added to future versions of the dashboard. Placeholder measures are expected to be available within the next nine to 12 months. For additional measures; such as indicators on access to Individual Placement and Support, outcome measures for Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, movement off benefits and average waiting times for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services; these require significantly more work to define exactly how the indicator will be constructed and in some cases will need be built on data which aren’t currently routinely collected across the National Health Service. These additional measures will be developed over the course of the next year. It is anticipated that an indicator on Individual Placement and Support programme spend will be considered as part of the future development of the dashboard. The dashboard will be updated quarterly. The dashboard can be found via the NHS England website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/mentalhealth/taskforce/imp/mh-dashboard/

Women and Equalities

Government Equalities Office: Staff

Mr Mark Hendrick: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many staff of the Government Equalities office identify as (a) male, (b) female, (c) gay, (d) lesbian, (e) bisexual, (f) transgender, (g) gender fluid, (h) bi-gender, (i) non-binary, (j) gender queer, (k) gender non-conforming, (l) tri-gender, (m) all genders, (n) intersex and (o) another gender identity.

Caroline Dinenage: There are 19 male and 35 female members of staff in the Government Equalities Office.We are unable to provide information for (c) gay, (d) lesbian, (e) bisexual to protect individuals’ identity, as numbers below 5 are suppressed.We do not record data for f) transgender, (g) gender fluid, (h) bi-gender, (i) non-binary, (j) gender queer, (k) gender non-conforming, (l) tri-gender, (m) all genders, (n) intersex and (o) an other gender identity.

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent assessment she has made of the effect on engagement with civil society organisations of the reduction made in the 2015 Comprehensive Spending Review to the budget of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Caroline Dinenage: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has, and will, continue to receive sufficient funds to enable it to fulfil its statutory functions. As far as engagement with civil society organisations is concerned these include but are not limited to functions under the Equality Act 2006, Section 5 (consultation on a strategic plan); Section 8 (promotion of understanding of the importance of equality and diversity; promotion of awareness and understand of rights under the equality enactments), Section 9 (promotion of understanding of importance of human rights); Section 12 (consultation on a quinquennial report on progress towards identified equality and human rights outcomes); and Section 13 (publication or other dissemination of ideas or information; provision of education or training).

Equality and Human Rights Commission

Mr Steve Reed: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the Equality and Human Rights Commission budget will be for each of the next three years.

Caroline Dinenage: The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been allocated a budget of £21.435m for 2016-17. Budgets for the years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 are being finalised by the Department for Education in consultation with the EHRC, and are consistent with the spending review settlement provided to the Department. We hope to be in a position to confirm budgets for these years shortly.